Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-11
TIE IEINlH ON MEN.
The Sou hern Gentte Folk of Slavery
Days Now n Scarce Article.

tieman OF the old regime is likely to be as
rarely rewarded as a search for the old
fashioned squire who was so prominent
personage in those days when England
deserved the adj -ctive of "merrie." The
TgeE%ine type must have been of middle
age, oKoider, When the war came aud
swept Away the peculiar Institution
which nIade the real Southern plantation
gentleman as aristOcratic and courtly as
the best OF the teuAal barons. Tue
younger race do not emb0dy the
old polish. They have business mar
mere. Their address is more ABRUPT, more
unyieding. There is nothing deferential
IN it. IL ia the keen, competitive manner
OF the commercial world.
Here, at the capital, as a matter of
course. one may see at every turn repre-
stntatives OF the old professional and
official life of the South, and they have
not, by contact, lost all Of the Gourtliness
OF the former era. Yet they are not the
ideal southern country gentlemen of hall
century ago. Mucn of the distinctive
gloss is rubbed off. The domination of the
Northern politician has not only subdued
them. but lt has lent them not little vt
the hue OF the schemer and the demagogue.
Slavery had its good results. If 1t held
millions as slaves, it raised few to
high condition of refinement. The con-
slaves, and the opportunities il afforded,
had this ennobling effect when the con-
scI0usness OF the mere ownership OF
money or bonds, or stocks would have
made them mean, narrow, repulsive,
The planter was, therefore, usually gen.
tleman. Toe millionaire gambler and
profit monger is usually a vulgar fellow
who lives only to hoard or display his
wealth. The best type OF slave owner
had deep sOlicitude for his slaves wbIch
went far beyond sordid calculation. The
best type OF modern employer grInds all
he can from his wOrkmen for the smallest
possible outlay, pays them and troubles
himself no further in regard to their well
fare. l speak Of types, not Individuals.
Assuredlv chatte slavery does not seem
so great an evil when compared with the
fri2id, unsym pathetic system of wage
slavery.
ONE OF THE ORIGINALS.
But all this has little, though 1t has
something, to do with my stumbling
across a genuine old Virginia country
gentleman the other day, the first of b S
kind whom it has been my good fortune
to meet, though | nave taken many an
extended tramp over the sacred soil.
Long had looked and inquired in vain
] had almost concluded they were myths.
when suddenly / came upon one. | knew
him the moment | saw him. | could not
be mistaken in regard to his identity.
IL was one OF those lovely days which
: 1preceded by a week or so the storm whose
tnow yet covers all the landscape.
STARTED forth early for long tramp, not
Gearing what roasS- chose or whittier |
went. Naturally. h6weveEs 1 kept near
the bank of the river, for there l could
have the finest scenery. Some'Jimes when
the road wound inland, far arO' I'D great
hill | would climb fences l0Sd walk
through fields, regardless of earnings
against trespassing, though ldidlDesitate
occasionally when read such menacing
, bulletins as BE ware OF the Dog."N
1t was on one of these cIOss-lot eSxcur-
sions that came upon the genial reTsT of
the days of barbaric Southern splendsor.
j was mounting headland that jutted
into the river, when was accosted with /:
"Good day, sir; glad to see you. SIR" ia
such hearty tones that there could be no
mistake about the sincerity OF the well
come.
Il hope l am not guilty of an offense by
crossing Your land" L said.
''Oh, no, sir; not at all, Sir; would be
s glad to show you around, sir"
He greeted me, hat In hand, and with
many hOn0rs. He was very old man,
but his eve was bright, his step light, and
his voice strong and CHEEKY. His hair
and beard were white as snow. HIS
hands and feet were small, his features
were finely cut. He was undoubtedly of
good blood. His frequent use of the
''Sir' was almost comical to a Northern
ear, and he pronounced it with true
Southern accent, almost as though it
We're spelled s-u-h.
''YOu have lived here for long time, /
SUPPOSE
Yes sir, all my life. sir, and that is a
long time, tor am nearly 90 years old.
My family have owned and occupied this
farm for more than $50 years. Do you
see that old burial ground, sir. Step
over and lo1k at it, SIR"
VENERABLE MONUMENTS.
Under trees that were old and gnarled
enough even for that ancient burial place,
there were graves which told their own
STORY OF age. The inscriptions on two or
three slabs which lay fiat upon tomb
constructed of old English brick Wete
almost oblterated. With difficulty |
traced the words and figures, died
1901" "Died 1906"
''They were the first of our family who
were buried in this country" said the old
gentleman. but they were not the last
not the last, sir. There is new grave
air." and his voice trembled. My sister
the last one left, was laid there only few
weeks ago, sir. There Is my place, over
there. | shall be the next, SIR"
Seeing the remaicCy of numerous earthen
fort- in the vicining, said:
"You seem Kc,iiiaye been in the midst of
the war;" AZ
well, ga, we had no war to speak of
here, slr, but we had the soldiers; too
mape OF them. Tney ruined ME; they
rufued me, sir just there, sir, stood the
cd homestead OF the - family That
6eprt ssion was the cellar. You see, sir,
n IL almost filed up now. so rapidly is
tho past obiterated. We were all born
there, SIR My sister, who died recently,
lived there when tue soldiers came, Then
she left The old house and lived with me
over there on the hill, but not IN the
house you see there now. She left some
of the servants to care for the old home,
but the soldiers had no respect for such
n Guard. They would come over from
she fort there and take possession of the
DIRce, and carouse and gamble.
1nstead Of disciplining the soldiers
and putting guard around the
house, The officers az the fort
nent over a detail with instructions 10
.aZe the structure to the ground; aud so
they deliberately set fire TO the dear old
mansion, which had stood the storms o.
more than century, and lett nothing Of
e. INIT q pile OF bricks. Look at the
hcn,lty OF The situation. There broad
,venlie lined with great sycamores led uD
A ftita flhOAa liiue